Chapter 553 ·Thornflower Sprite

After ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Janna discovered the reason behind the Celestial Sparrow’s “abnormal” condition, her consciousness projection withdrew from the 【Law Consciousness Cluster】 and once again transformed into her spiritual body, reappearing beside the Celestial Sparrow.

“It ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍may take some time before the 【Will of Purification】 is completely formed, so during this period, you should stay here for now.”

Looking ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍at the Celestial Sparrow that had completely fallen into deep slumber, Janna gently stroked its feathers, then took out a Light Essence she had only recently exchanged from the 【White Tower Ring】 at the 【Resource Exchange Hall】 and placed it beside the Celestial Sparrow.

“I ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍wonder what Aph’s next evolutionary form will look like—”

Gazing ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍at the Celestial Sparrow, which at the moment looked no different from a parrot, Janna couldn’t help but anticipate its next stage of evolution.

According ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍to the classification of Wizard Apprentices’ strength, the Celestial Sparrow’s current level was roughly at the peak of a Third-Tier Wizard Apprentice. Its next evolution would mark the transition of its life form to a higher level—an official wizard.

“Aph once said that within the 【Holy Realm of Heaven】, it still holds the title of ‘Reserve of Holy Light’. Doesn’t that mean its next evolution might very well be into an angel representing the Holy Light?”

At that thought, Janna’s gaze toward the Celestial Sparrow shone with growing anticipation.

If the Celestial Sparrow truly evolved into an angel, it would not only signify a complete evolution in the level of life, but also mean that Janna would soon have another companion possessing the power of an official wizard—aside from the Ocean Envoy Anna-Russell.

“It’s just that, while Aph is asleep, I can’t take care of it all the time, and—”

At that point, Janna’s gaze shifted toward the nearby saplings.

“Although the 【Will of Purification】 has taken its initial form and can already begin self-purifying the contamination within 【Zoe Star】, until the day it is fully complete, I must not lower my guard.”

The Celestial Sparrow’s slumber meant that Janna could no longer constantly monitor the condition of the saplings across 【Zoe Star】. If contamination reappeared, all her previous efforts might go to waste.

“I command with my will—Summon one—Thornflower Sprite.”

Together with a flash of emerald light, the Thornflower Sprite—who hadn’t been summoned from the 【Thorny Plane】 for quite some time—appeared once again on 【Zoe Star】.

“Master!”

As before, the Thornflower Sprite, now having undergone two evolutions, still possessed a human-shaped upper body and a lower body resembling a pink flower bud. She also retained insect-like traits such as butterfly wings and compound eyes.

However, after her evolution, the Thornflower Sprite had fully transcended her primitive, instinct-driven stage. In terms of intellect, she now stood on par with the Celestial Sparrow and the Hundred-Eyed Mirror Demon.

“Master, Laura really missed you!”

Perhaps it had been too long since she had last seen Janna, for the Thornflower Sprite bounded excitedly toward her the moment she appeared, gently wrapping one of her thin, flexible thorns around Janna’s arm.

Seeing this, Janna clasped Laura’s delicate hands and affectionately tousled her pink hair.

“I’m sorry, Laura. I’ve been quite busy lately, so I haven’t had the time to visit you.”

Other than the Celestial Sparrow, the Thornflower Sprite had been Janna’s longest companion among her contracted creatures. Hence, Janna’s affection for her ran deep.

Even though the Thornflower Sprite was merely a low-level plant-type spirit, Janna had never been stingy when it came to allocating her resources.

“It’s all right, Master. As long as you don’t abandon Laura, Laura is already happy.”

Seeing the Thornflower Sprite’s cautious expression, and knowing she had “neglected” her for quite some time, Janna’s gaze softened.

“Of course not. How could I ever abandon you—”

With a gentle smile, Janna turned Laura’s attention toward the saplings behind her.

“Laura, let me officially introduce you—this is 【Zoe Star】, a world that belongs only to us.”

“Our world—”

Hearing Janna’s words, Laura looked toward the vast new “world” before her.

Unlike the thriving vitality of the 【Thorny Plane】, the environment within 【Zoe Star】 could only be described as barren.

But upon hearing from Janna that this was their world, even such desolation seemed endearing to the Thornflower Sprite.

“That’s right. From now on, I’ll grant you access to enter 【Zoe Star】 freely. Whenever you wish, you may come here—of course, as you can see, the environment here is still harsh. Ordinary creatures can’t survive here for long, so I can’t let you stay permanently yet.”

Unlike the Celestial Sparrow, a Holy Light spirit that lived purely on light-elemental energy, the Thornflower Sprite—bearing both plant and insect characteristics—still required sustenance.

Aside from photosynthesis, she also hunted occasionally, feeding on blooded prey.

“But don’t worry. It won’t be long before I restore vitality to this place. Then, you’ll be able to live here freely.”

“Thank you, Master! Laura is so happy!”

Hearing Janna’s grand vision, the Thornflower Sprite’s voice rose with excitement, overjoyed not just for herself, but for her master.

“Laura, the reason I called you here today is that I have something important to entrust to you.”

With that, Janna pointed toward the still-short saplings behind her.

“These saplings are ones I’ve recently cultivated. Their life force is still fragile. Before they fully mature, someone must watch over them—so I’d like you to help me take care of them.”

“Master, please rest assured! I’ll take care of them with all my heart!”

Finally being “summoned” by Janna again, and now receiving her very own mission, the Thornflower Sprite’s first reaction was one of excitement.

“Yes, I trust you. But before that, there are a few precautions I need to tell you in advance.”

Seeing Laura’s enthusiasm, Janna nodded approvingly before proceeding to explain the current problems facing 【Zoe Star】.

“【Zoe Star】 is different from your home, the 【Thorny Plane】. This place is a broken plane where no 【Laws】 have yet been born—it is a part of the 【Fallen Star Domain】. Moreover, the contamination here is severe, especially across this land—it may very well be swallowed by pollution once again…”

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